Garden Spot was represented nicely by Ashley Parry and Kayla Parry at the District Three Class 3A swimming championships, which were held at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday, March 6.

Kayla Parry, a sophomore, finished sixth in the 200-yard individual medley and was 12th in the 500 freestyle.

Her older sister, Ashley Parry, a senior, swam the 100 butterfly in 57.73 seconds to earn seventh place in that race. Parry swam the 200 freestyle at a 1:55.53 clip, which was good for eighth place.

"Both girls had a very strong meet, going against some of the toughest swimmers in the state," said Darin Parry, the Garden Spot coach.

"Ashley achieved two lifetime bests times in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly," he noted. "She dropped 1.24 seconds in the 200 free.

"She plans to continue to swim at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois," added Parry.

Ashley's younger sister also achieved career bests at districts.

"Kayla dropped almost two seconds in the 200 IM," the Spartans coach pointed out.

In the boys' championships, which were held the same day but at Central York, Parry pointed out, "Peter Hasse qualified for the districts in the 100 butterfly and finished with a lifetime best of 1:05.38. He finished ninth.

Haase knocked off nearly three seconds off his qualifying time. He competed in the Class 2A. "Evidently the population of boys at Garden Spot is smaller than girls. This was based on student body population, so the boys were eligible to compete at AA," said Parry.

"The PIAA is having a reduced field of swimmers compete at the state championships," continued the coach. "No Garden Spot swimmer achieved times fast enough to make them eligible for the 2021 PIAA meet."

WRESTLING

Garrett Gehr finished sixth in his 132-pound weight class at the PIAA Class-AAA West Super Regionals, held in Altoona on Saturday, March 6.

Gehr bounced back from a pin in the opening round as Seneca Valley's Dylan Chappell managed to register a fall in the second period. Gehr's rebound bout was an 8-4 win in the consolations, topping Cumberland Valley's Kyle Miller.

The next round of consis went in favor of Waynesburg Central's Colton Stoneking, who earned a 7-1 decision, sending Gehr to the fifth-sixth place match. Braden Bower of Williamsport came away with a pin early in the second period of that match.

Dustin Swanson, a sophomore that has impressed many while he has wrestled in the heavyweight class, suffered a pin in the opening round as Hempfield Area's Isaiah Vance moved on.

In the consolations, Swanson was on the short end of a tough 5-2 decision that ended in favor of Oliver Billotte of Clearfield.